Because of the hip operation and ongoing recovery I have a fair bit of time on my hands. The media report that Trump has started a consultation process about the possible need for additional information on the ESTA system. {see below}.
There will of course be an added administrative burden.
I can be seen as critical about US policy and the goings on in Palestine.
Were I to consider going to the USA there is a very good chance that any application would be rejected as I am not sufficiently “fond” of things.
If the consultation approves the suggestions it will make any attempt to gain entry very unattractive. Not sure what that will do for the world cup and Olympics.
The data will fulfil a profiling requirement. Good luck to anyone who reads my blogs from the last five years. I am currently not living in a designated “shithole” country. This level of data is compatible with mid-level security vetting. It is a bit OTT.
The obvious conclusion is that I will not be going to the USA ever again…the mat outside the front door does not say “welcome”.
“Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy”
What a great Christmas message from DC…
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Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision; Arrival and Departure Record (Form I-94) and Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
3. Mandatory Social Media:
In order to comply with the January 2025 Executive Order 14161 (Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats), CBP is adding social media as a mandatory data element for an ESTA application. The data element will require ESTA applicants to provide their social media from the last 5 years.
4. High Value Data Elements:
To comply with the January 2025 E.O. (14161), and the April 4, 2025, Memorandum Updating All Forms to Collect Baseline Biographic Data, CBP will add several “high value data fields” to the ESTA application, when feasible. This is in addition to the information already collected in the ESTA application.
The high value data fields include:
a. Telephone numbers used in the last five years;
b. Email addresses used in the last ten years;
c. IP addresses and metadata from electronically submitted photos;
d. Family member names (parents, spouse, siblings, children);
e. Family number telephone numbers used in the last five years;
f. Family member dates of birth;
g. Family member places of birth;
h. Family member residencies;
i. Biometrics—face, fingerprint, DNA, and iris;
j. Business telephone numbers used in the last five years;
k. Business email addresses used in the last ten years.
CBP invites the public to comment on both the previously approved emergency changes and the newly proposed changes.
Dreamyoga 